Exercise 9. Read and make a summary of the text. PETROLEUM IS A FOSSIL FUEL

PETROLEUM IS A FOSSIL FUEL

Long before the dinosaurs, oceans covered most of the earth. They were filled with tiny sea animals and plants.These tiny animals and plants, called plankton, got their energy to live and multiply from sunlight. When they died they sank to the bottom of the sea.Sand covered them. The pressure and temperature deep underground turned the chemicals from the decaying animals and plants into a fossil fuel – crude oil and gas.

PETROLEUM IS NONRENEWABLE

So it took millions of years to form petroleum and natural gas. We can’t get more done in a short time. That’s why we call petroleum nonrenewable. Oil in general has been used since early human history to keep fires ablaze, and in warfare.People gathered oil that seeped from under the ground into ponds. It floated on the water.

REACHING INTO THE RESERVOIR

Before any drilling begins on land we may have to build access roads, construct a temporary power station or install wells for the water supply. In fragile habitats or very remote places helicopters or barges may be the only responsible way to get equipment and supplies into place.

Drilling for oil in the winds, currents and choppy waters of the open seas is even more challenging. The most difficult part is getting a drilling rig to stay in position despite the currents and waves.

Petroleum is buried underground in tiny pockets in rocks. We drill wells into the rocks to pump out the oil. Some wells are more than two miles deep. Oil rigs that can float are used to reach this oil. After the oil is drilled, it is sent to refineries. At the refineries, it is cleaned and made into different fuels. Most of the oil is made into gasoline. The oil is moved from one place to another by ships and trucks, and through pipeline.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF RIGS

In shallower water of up to 100 metres, we use what is called a jack-up unit. It starts out as a barge, which is towed into place. Legs extend to the sea floor and then the barge lifts out of the water, becoming a stable drilling platform.

In rougher seas or water up to 300 metres deep we use some of the water itself as a counterweight. A semi-submersible drilling rig is a platform attached to submerged pontoons. When the pontoons are flooded with water they lower into the ocean, meaning waves do not affect the platform nearly as much. Drill ships are held in place by large anchors or by dynamic positioning systems, which use computer-controlled propellers to help the ship stay in place.

STUDYING THE MUD

As the diamond or tungsten drill bit goes into the hard rock, a substance called ‘mud’ is pumped down through the pipe. As the mud comes back up through the outer part of the pipe, we get the first hard evidence showing whether we were right about the resources at the site. Geologists monitor the cuttings to check whether they’re coming out in the sequences they expected, while records of the mud and rock fragments are kept for further study later on.

Once the exploratory well has been drilled, various instruments are lowered into it so we can learn more about the reservoir. This way we measure the natural radioactivity and electrical resistance of the rocks, as well as the pressure and temperature of the fluids or gases.

WE USE PETROLEUM EVERY DAY

Many cars, trucks, and planes all use fuel made from oil. Our factories use oil to make plastics and paints, medicines and soaps. We even burn oil to make electricity. We use more petroleum than any other energy source.

PETROLEUM CAN POLLUTE

Petroleum keeps us going, but it can damage our environment. Burning oil can pollute the air. Pollution from cars is a big problem in many parts of the country.

Oil companies are making cleaner gasoline and other fuels every year. Oil can also pollute the soil and water, and injure animals. Oil companies work hard to drill and ship oil as safely as possible. They try to clean up any oil that spills

Exercise 10. Compile information about different oil&gas equipment and participate in a project. Present the project to your group. You may use the following web site: http://www.ogpe.com/index.html

NEED PROJECT • PO BOX

TEST 6

1. Choose the proper words and fill in the blanks.

1. The … industry can be broken down into two key areas: upstream and downstream.

A food&gas B oil&gas C oil&coal D gas&go

2. Upstream operations deal primarily with the … stages.

A exploration B presentation C distribution D generalisation

3. The downstream is referred to the filtering of the … materials obtained during the upstream phase.

A flammable B global C raw D shallow

4. Oil and gas production takes place ………. and offshore.

A onshore B byshore C inshore D bayshore

5. Drilling and … are two disciplines that depend heavily upon each other when a well is to be planned.

A Geology B Geography C Geometry D Geochemistry

6.Construction of drilling wells and….. is an enormous risk.

A marshes B bogs C landfills D rigs

7. Petroleum (oil) is a naturally occurring … found in rock formations.

A liquid B gas C steam D stone

8. Our partners drill wells into the rocks to … out the oil.

A burn B pump C dry D mix

9. The oil is moved from one place to another by ships and trucks, and through … .

A derrick B pipeline C rig D shaker

10. As the diamond drill bit goes into the hard rock, a substance called … is pumped down through the pipe.

A ‘mud’ B ‘diesel’ C ‘kerosene’ D ‘gasoline’

2. Fill in the blanks with the proper forms of the Verbals.

1.The pressure and temperature deep underground turned the chemicals from the … animals and plants into a fossil fuel – crude oil and gas.

A decaying B decay C being decay D been decayed

2. Before any … begins on land we may have to build access roads and construct a temporary power station.

A drilling B drilled C being drilled D to drill

3. In fragile habitats or very remote places helicopters or barges may be the only responsible way … equipment.

A to get B been got C got D getting

4. Oil rigs that can float are … to reach this oil.

A using B used C to use D been used

5. The oil is … from one place to another by ships and trucks, and through pipeline.

A moving B moved C to have moved D to move

6. A jack-up unit starts out as a barge, which is … into place.

A towed B to tow C to have towed D towing

7. A semi-submersible drilling rig is a platform … to submerged pontoons.

A attached B to attach C have attached D attaching

8. As the diamond or tungsten drill bit goes into the hard rock, a substance …‘mud’ is pumped down through the pipe.

A calling B to call C has called D called

9. … oil can pollute the air.

A Burn B To burn C Burning D Burned

10. Oil companies work hard …….. oil as safely as possible.

A drilling and shipping B to drill and ship

C to have drilled and shipped D drill and ship